I've never been in a Waffle House when the employees didn't seem like they were on drugs. Oh, and one of my friends has a rather hilarious story he tells about another Waffle House patron repeatedly calling him a "faggot", until my friend got sick of it and started making eyes at said patron. He's probably lucky he didn't get beaten up though.

/I think getting called anti-gay slurs at Waffle House is probably preferable to the roaches that always seem to be in the place

Outbacks, at least in my area, are very mediocre. Most of the time your steak is cooked half a degree cooler than you asked. They usually do the prime rib up OK, but quality wise the meat is nothing to write home about. Texas Roadhouse does a much better job.

Also, they closed all the Ted's around my area, are there still any open besides Georgia?

How about no. I actually have never eaten there so I suppose it's unfair for me to judge but I don't want cheesecake for dinner. I don't even want it for desert because if I'm still hungry after dinner you didn't put enough steak and potatoes on my plate.

Lydia_C:Having tried a cheeseburger at In-N-Out Burger in Vegas this summer, I have to say I don't know why people go so nutty over their stuff. Yes, it was fine, but not exactly the pinnacle hamburger experience that some make it out to be.

Its kind of like cocaine. Having cocaine once is a "what's the big deal" experience. After you develop a taste for it, it kind of gnaws at you.

natmar_76:10. Cheesecake Factory I go only for dessert9. Chipotle Mexican Grill wouldn't go back, there is real Mexican food where I live8. Five Guys Third best burger place in town7. Jason's Deli I eat there whenever I visit my in-laws6. California Pizza Kitchen Maybe bad luck, but the service always sucks 5. Outback Steakhouse I cook better than Outback4. Ted's Montana Grill never heard of it3. Houston's Only worth going for the night you seal the deal with your date2. Melting Pot Fun with friends1. In-N-Out Burger Best value burger place in town

Whataburger belongs on this list. Also, Outback is horrible, the meat is cheap and overseasoned in order to compensate for quality, and if they are going to include a chain steakhouse, at least go with Texas Roadhouse.

Yeah, there used to be a Whataburger in Nags Head and Hatteras which were "must" stops on any surfari to the Outer Banks in the late 60s and early 70s. It says a lot about the overdevelopment of that area that both have been replaced by McDonald's - which doesn't serve food but what appears to be and tastes like petroleum by-products.

Zap_Rowsdower:Haven't heard of half of these, disagree with most of the ones I've tried. Chipotle's is OK, but not nearly as good for you as they pretend to be.

carnitas bowl with brown rice, beans, hot sauce, guacamole and as much lettuce as they can squeeze in the container is actually a very balanced meal and other than way, way too much sodium is pretty tasty.

Chipotle is OK, pretty bland, but let's not start calling it Mexican food, kind of a Mexican style, in the fact that you are wrapping stuff in a tortilla, but that is about it. You might as well say "Hey McDonalds has Mexican food!" The big mac wrap.

kwame:MAYORBOB: Outback Steakhouse? Are you freaking kidding me? The one time I went

lol

idiot

Why would you return to a place that farked you over even one time? And yes, I do consider a leathery steak to be a farking-over of the highest magnitude. Unforgivable for how many steaks those cooks have to practice on. Or perhaps it's their subgrade meat they use. Here's a nugget I found on Wiki that will keep me out of the outback permanently: "The company and its founders are major contributors, via the Outback Steakhouse PAC, to the Republican Party, contributing $303,015 and $334,197 for the 2000 and 2004 election cycles, respectively." It makes sense that they don't give a flying fark about food quality.

Paleorific:Chipotle is OK, pretty bland, but let's not start calling it Mexican food, kind of a Mexican style, in the fact that you are wrapping stuff in a tortilla, but that is about it. You might as well say "Hey McDonalds has Mexican food!" The big mac wrap.

Genghis Grill (new window) Mongolian BBQ. Great concept: just pay for a bowl, load it up, sauce it up, choose a carb, let the cooks do their thing, and then chow the fark down. Add unlimited bowls thereafter for a nominal fee.

Went to their homepage to find the link and noticed they just opened one up in my hometown. I know where I'm going for lunch tomorrow!!

Melting Pot and Outback are jokes. Melting Pot is terribly over priced and unsatisfying. Outback is mediocre at best.

I love me some 5 Guys, but I'm not certain whether I'm looking forward to the burgers or the fries when I eat there.

I adore Jason's Deli. I would probably kill for a New York Yankee.

Every time I'm in a place to get an In-N-Out Burger I never get to eat there. I'm dying to do so, maybe the next time I'm on the west coast.

Ohh, and I've seen some mentions of Fuddruckers and that might have been true once, but these last few years haven't been kind at all for those in the Atlanta area. They've become complete ass. . and then mercifully closed.

Roquefort:Chipotle was owned for years by Mcdonalds, and the menu never recovered from it.

False, McDonalds was a non-managing angel investor. They never had any input into the menu or where Chipotle sourced product from. Chipotle's management team did gain some insight into how to run a succesful franchising system from senior mcdonalds staff but that was the extent of the involvement.

kyuzokai:Found a new favorite chain when I was in Charlotte NC, recently:

Genghis Grill (new window) Mongolian BBQ. Great concept: just pay for a bowl, load it up, sauce it up, choose a carb, let the cooks do their thing, and then chow the fark down. Add unlimited bowls thereafter for a nominal fee.

See? Who says you can't make a chain restaurant based on an empire known for killing hundreds of millions of people?

As a road warrior I agree with most restaurants listed, particularly Outback. Also Texas Roadhouse makes a Chicken Critter Salad that is off the hook. Seriously, it's awesome. Before I leave on business trips I go to google maps to figure out where the nearest Texas Roadhouse is to my destination.Their other menu items are hit and miss though. Also I would like to add that Applebees is a shiatty restaurant that serves food that has been pre-packaged and then warmed up just after you order. They suck.

robodog:Roquefort: Chipotle was owned for years by Mcdonalds, and the menu never recovered from it.

False, McDonalds was a non-managing angel investor. They never had any input into the menu or where Chipotle sourced product from. Chipotle's management team did gain some insight into how to run a succesful franchising system from senior mcdonalds staff but that was the extent of the involvement.

10. Cheesecake Factory--went once many years ago, cared so little i never went back.9. Chipotle Mexican Grill--if i want mexican, ill go get mexican.8. Five Guys--tasty, greasy burgers.7. Jason's Deli--decent sandwich place for the price, not spectacular6. California Pizza Kitchen--never been5. Outback Steakhouse--Longhorn, Texas Roadhouse are way better. Outback overspices every steak.4. Ted's Montana Grill--don't have here3. Houston's--went once, was a little too high falutin' for me.2. Melting Pot--never been. I don't go out to pay money to cook my own food1. In-N-Out Burger--edible, don't get the hype. Would eat there again but not if there is a 5 guys next door.

kyuzokai:Found a new favorite chain when I was in Charlotte NC, recently:

Genghis Grill (new window) Mongolian BBQ. Great concept: just pay for a bowl, load it up, sauce it up, choose a carb, let the cooks do their thing, and then chow the fark down. Add unlimited bowls thereafter for a nominal fee.

Went to their homepage to find the link and noticed they just opened one up in my hometown. I know where I'm going for lunch tomorrow!!

LOVE some Genghis grill. Mongolian bbq FTW. Sadly I have to travel to Houston (closest location) to get it